Dallas Cowboys: Hitchens Can’t Replace McClain Alone

The Dallas Cowboys may be asking Anthony Hitchens to replace suspended starting MIKE, Rolando McClain, in the lineup. Here’s why that can’t happen…

Last week, the Dallas Cowboys were informed that starting MIKE, Rolando McClain, would be suspended for once again violating the NFL Substance Abuse Policy. According to the policy, a 10-game suspension is the penalty for a player in Stage Three of the NFL’s intervention program and comes after repeated failed marijuana tests.

Related Story: Explaining the NFL Substance Abuse Policy

Rolando McClain, clearly no stranger to failed tests, is now expected to miss the better part of the 2016 season and may have even played his last down for the Dallas Cowboys (something I object to wholeheartedly). Replacing McClain in the starting lineup is likely to be third year linebacker, Anthony Hitchens.

Despite his young age, Anthony Hitchens, 24, is no greenhorn. Since joining the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Hitchens has made a name for himself at multiple positions. In his rookie season alone, Hitchens logged considerable snaps at all three of the Dallas Cowboys linebacker spots.

Instead of looking at this like one player has to fill Rolando McClain’s enormous shoes, look at like the entire organization has to fill his shoes.

His positional versatility was instrumental in the Cowboys’ 12-4 season and was enough to earn SportDFW co-defensive MVP honors. In 2016, Hitchens would go on to provide valuable depth to all three linebacker spots playing a total of 546 snaps.

As one of the youngest and most proven linebacker options, it should be no wonder Anthony Hitchens is considered the favorite to land the starting MIKE spot on the Dallas Cowboys defense. Someone has to man the position while McClain serves his time, right?

But is Anthony Hitchens the one guy who can get the job done? Better question – why does it have to be one player who replaces Rolando? Why not multiple players?

The role of MIKE on Rod Marinelli’s defense is not an easy spot to fill. It requires run-stopping ability, pass-coverage skills, sideline-to-sideline speed, reliable tackling, and even blitzing skills. While Rolando McClain regressed considerably as a tackler in 2015, he solidified himself as one of the NFL’s best coverage linebackers.

Pro Football Focus gave McClain a 43.8 run stopping score which ranked him in the bottom half of the league, but his 83.3 coverage score ranked him 11^th amongst all LBs last season. Replacing that will take some doing.

Related Story: Why Rolando McClain is Replaceable

In Anthony Hitchens’ rookie season, he posted positive grades against the run in all three linebacker spots. Pass coverage was a different story. Hitchens struggled in both man and zone coverage earning negative grades in most games.

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Last season, things changed as Hitchens split his snaps between MIKE and SAM. Hitchens’ coverage skills improved (nowhere near that of McClain but still a noticeable improvement) but his run-stopping ability struggled (primarily from the SAM spot). The strong side typically favors larger built “thumper” LBs and while Hitchens is perfectly capable of playing SAM in a pinch, it’s clear he’s much better suited for the MIKE and WILL.

What Anthony Hitchens eventually becomes, remains to be seen. He’s still young and still improving. He has a strong work ethic and good coaching. While there are a ton of reasons to be excited about Anthony Hitchens’ future, it’s important to stay realistic about how he replaces Rolando McClain.

As mentioned here and on many other outlets, Rolando McClain has faults. He has a history of concussions, drug suspensions, and missed tackles. He has highlights but he also has some significant lowlights. The one thing that cannot be overstated is his ability in coverage.

Rolando McClain can play both man and zone. He can cover shallow (cover 2) or drop deep (Tampa 2). He can man up and cover tight ends and he can disguise his responsibilities to bait quarterbacks. For how good McClain is in coverage, it would be unfair to just expect Anthony Hitchens to seamlessly slide in.

This is going to be challenge for the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff and depth chart. Damien Wilson and Mark Nzeocha are two talented and completely unproven options the Cowboys have at their disposal. If one of them proves to have superior coverage skills, Rod Marinelli could easily platoon the position based on strengths and weaknesses.

The Dallas Cowboys’ biggest task will be finding a LB to work with Sean Lee in the nickel defense. In nickel, the Cowboys remove the SAM and replace him with a third CB. Rolando McClain was always the man for the job but with McClain on ice for 10 weeks, the Dallas Cowboys are left searching for answers.

Instead of looking at this like one player has to fill Rolando McClain’s enormous shoes, look at like the entire organization has to fill his shoes. That should be a more realistic way to look at the situation and hopefully more comforting as well.

Next: Can J.J. Wilcox Move to Linebacker?

Anthony Hitchens will have a nearly impossible task of filling Rolando McClain’s shoes all by himself. This is going to be a team effort so don’t rule out the chances of Wilson, Nzeocha, or even J.J. Wilcox picking up the slack.